SOS Spring Community Impact
Please enjoy our Spring Community Impact Report.
We have a good news story from our Homeless Prevention Program, a spotlight on events this year, information about the GradWear program, and more!
Feb. 17 Insights – The Power of Kindness
“When I was young, I admired clever people.
Now that I am old, I admire kind people.”
~ Abraham Joshua Heschel
What do you do when you pass a stranger on the street? Do you smile and say hello, or do you keep your head down and keep on walking?
I think it depends on where you’ve come from. If you’re from a big city, you might not feel comfortable making eye contact. However, if you have lived here all your life or come from a smaller community, chances are you find it easier to strike up a conversation with a total stranger. And you never know, it might be the first kind gesture that stranger may have received all day. To me, that’s what kindness and community is all about.
In celebration of Kindness Week, and Random Acts of Kindness Day (today!) I am offering several ideas to help you perform some random acts of kindness towards a stranger, especially towards someone who is different from yourself. Here’s some ideas to get your going:
- If you’re a gardener, take some fresh flowers to a nursing home.
- Smile and say hi to the bank clerk, the grocery store cashier, the person walking their dog, the construction worker. You get the idea. It’s about just being more open and human.
- Start a trend of “pay it forward” at the coffee drive-through.
- Write a thank-you note to your letter carrier.
- Offer to return someone’s grocery cart in the parking lot.
- Let someone in ahead of you in the grocery store line.
- Let someone else take the closer parking spot.
- Buy a warm meal for a stranger in need.
- Leave a great tip at a restaurant along with a note saying thanks for the service.
- Take a basket of cookies or muffins to a new neighbour. Remember a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet. Take the time to meet them.
- Sign up as a volunteer to deliver meals, pick up groceries or drive residents to their medical appointments.
- Buy gift cards from a coffee shop or fast-food restaurant to give to people who are living on the street or in a shelter.
- Give an unexpected compliment – “I really appreciate your great service today.” “You’re really great with your dog.” “Your garden looks beautiful.” “That’s a great colour on you.” Make it respectful, genuine, and appropriate.
Never underestimate the power of kindness to change someone’s day and possibly their life. And remember to treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you. Not because they are nice, but because you are.
With our kind and grateful hearts,
Susanna Newton
SOS Executive Director
SOS Savings Book Fundraiser
SOS is working with Blue Sky Fundraising to help fundraise for SOS. They are a local company who produce savings books to help raise funds for charities and local schools such as SPCA and Ballenas Secondary School. Each book will retail at $20 each and sold at SOS Thrift Shop and at our Parksville Community Services Centre from February 13 – end of May.
Inside the Savings book readers will find many coupons from businesses in Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Nanaimo. Overall providing over $1,400 worth of savings.
For more information on Blue Sky Fundraising or the Savings Book visit www.blueskybc.com and www.savingsbook.ca.
Participating Businesses:
Parksville
- The Back 40 Grill
- Elegance Sculpting
- Bosley’s By Pet Valu
- KD’s Cafe
- Lefty’s Pizza & Restaurant
- Sunset Lanes Bowling Alley
- Mystic Lotus
- Topspot Diner
- M&N Mattress and Sofa
- Bumblebaby Boutique
- Family Ford
- Coyote’s Coffee
- Close To You Fashion Boutique
- Sarpinos Pizzeria
- In The Groove Records
- Retro Zone Games
- Island Traders
- Mercedes Lane Fashion
- Barber Ret
Qualicum
- Qualicum Pet Foods & Supply
- Tablet Pharmacy
Nanaimo
- Legart Leggings
- Wildplay Elements Park
- Cobs Bread
- Invictus Charters
- Bee’s Knees Cafe & Catering
- BC SPCA
- Drip Coffee
- Port Place Hair Spa
- Gifts for Kids
- LG’s Pizza & Pasta
- Lilybelle Locks
- Happiest Pup Pet Services
- The Breakfast Nook
- Hub City Cycles
- Kirby’s Source for Sports
- Sarah Talks Food
- Sports Card Alley
- Piccadilly Bistro
- Off the Vine On Premise Winemaking
SOS Personal Growth Group starts Jan. 31
Dreaming of a better you this year? This is the place to begin. The SOS Personal Growth Group helps residents enhance their quality of life and develop their potential while gaining new skills and confidence. Outcomes include: a better connection with yourself and others, a better understanding of identity, and increased awareness of relationships with family, friends, and the community. The program runs for 10-weeks from Jan. 21 – April 4 at the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville. The cost is $5 per session and the remainder of the cost is subsidized by SOS. Pre-register for the program by calling 250-752-2040 ext. 200.
SOS Learning Series – Cultivating a Resilience Practice
Join SOS for a free seminar on creating a healthy resilience practice on Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the SOS Community Services Centre in Parksville.
The seminar will be led by Cindy Thompson ACC, M. Sc, RCC, who is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Certified Executive Coach. Over the past two years Cindy has been studying resilience and learning from the lived experience of her guests on A Resilience Project podcast. Representatives from local mental health service organizations will also be present for a panel question and answer discussion.
To learn more or to pre-register, visit SOSResiliencePractice.eventbrite.ca or call SOS at 250-248-2093 by February 9.
Red Apple Fill the Sleigh Day
Red Apple Fill the Sleigh Day
A big shoutout to Red Apple, all the staff there, and everyone who supported their Fill the Sleigh Day and Toy Drive for SOS this year
SOS received a cheque for $1,203 from 10% of the sales on Dec. 5, PLUS $1,520 in cash donations collected by customers and $3,600 in toys and gifts.
